Evangelical pastor, family members killed after service in Colombia

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A beloved evangelical pastor and two family members were killed in northern Colombia while outside a restaurant after a service on Sunday.

A gunman on a motorcycle killed Pastor Marlon Lora of the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church, his wife, Yorley Rincón, and 24-year-old daughter, Angela Lora Rincón, in the municipality of Aguachica. Their 21-year-old son, Santiago Lora Rincón, was injured in the shooting.

Lora and his church were part of the Missionaries Biblical Churches (IBM) denomination, in which he traveled to and supervised nearly three dozen urban and rural churches across different regions in the country, according to the United Kingdom-based watchdog organization. Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

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The couple's supervisor, Father Giovanni Bermúdez, said Father Lora had previously been concerned about possible threats made against another priest.

“Marlon was like many of us priests – we keep quiet about a lot of things so that everything flows smoothly, even while we carry heavy burdens inside,” Bermúdez was quoted as saying.

Lora and his family were also liked by the Christian community in Aguachica, according to priest Divanit Alfonso Calle, president of the Association of Priests of Aguachica. Ángela worked as a communications and journalism professional for Aguachica's community service company and Santiago works as a systems engineering student.

The national government has announced a reward of up to 50 million pesos ($11,000) for anyone with information about the killing of the family, the Spanish newspaper reported. From Pais reports

Mayor Greisy Roqueme de Aguachica declared a curfew on Sunday night.

“We cannot allow violence to steal our hope, so I demand that the National Government, the Minister of Defense and the Public Force turn their attention to the department of Cesar, but above all to the municipality of Aguachica,” said Roqueme in a video. on social networks, El Pais notes.

The massacre also drew the response of President Gustavo Petro and Director of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Interior Alexander Jaimes.

“We express our solidarity with the families of the victims and the religious community,” Jaimes said in a statement, according to the Argentina-based online newspaper. Infobae.

Anna Lee Stangl, the director of advocacy for CSW, called on the Colombian government to “ensure protection for religious leaders who remain at risk of violence and intimidation because of their role as peacemakers in their communities.”

“As the government continues its post-conflict negotiations with the armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), which may target religious leaders in areas where it operates – such as the Aguachica region – we urge the government to recognize victims of the religious sector. as part of the individual peace agreements,” said Stangl.

In October, Office of the Ombudsman of Colombia reported an increase in violations of religious freedom rights by 31% between 2023 and 2024, which includes “discriminatory treatment towards churches and religious denominations, as well as death threats against religious leaders and authorities.” Death threats increased by 50% between 2023 and 2024.

The murder of Father Lora and his family continues a disturbing trend of deadly violence affecting Christians in Colombia in recent months, according to CSW.

In November, Ever and Gerson Garcia Velez, brothers who attended church at Valle Del Cauca, were killed by three men on their own farm. On November 11, priest Salvador Zapateiro Mercado was killed in circumstances in Cartagena. In August, the home of a pastoral couple was set on fire by neighbors upset with the services they would hold outside their home.

Colombia is the 34th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors International's 2024 World Watch List.

“[C]clerics continue to be harassed, blackmailed and murdered due to the violence surrounding control of territories between armed guerrillas, drug gangs and other armed groups,” Open Doors warn. “Christians in these areas who dare to speak publicly about corruption and violence face attacks for their bold witness. Similarly, church leaders who oppose criminal activities in their sermons may also be targeted.”

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